"One thing was clear: Absolutely everybody in the city was supposed to be dead, regardless of what they were, and that anybody that moved in it represented a flaw in the design. there were to be no moon men at all." p.180
By far, this was the quote that stood out to me most in the novel. Vonnegut really sheds a light on war but does it more explicitly in this quote. He expounds on the "design"; the "design" refers to the design of war. The design is to take out the enemy...all of them. The moon extended metaphor also shows the attitude taken into war that the enemy isn't human, but the are some type of alien. These "moon men" aren't human and therefore are alright to kill indiscriminately. It shows a viewpoint not often shown to the American public that cast Americans as evil. In this novel, they are like any army; men sent to execute a plan or the "design" regardless of who stands in the way.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five Repetition
"They looked like a silent film of a barbershop quarter." p. 178
While reading through this novel, I started to notice a pattern. Quite often, Billy's time traveling is often triggered by a reoccurring image. An image such as this one, the barber shop quartet, sickens Billy. He doesn't realize why the barber shop quartet at his 18th wedding anniversary causes him to become nauseous. This time travel is more of a flashback, but he is reminded of the awful bombing at Dresden and realizes why it makes him sick. This is also another theme found in the novel. Billy hardly reveals any of this war stories to any of his family or friends and this repression leads people to think of him as crazy and may cause his real or imaginative time travelings.
While reading through this novel, I started to notice a pattern. Quite often, Billy's time traveling is often triggered by a reoccurring image. An image such as this one, the barber shop quartet, sickens Billy. He doesn't realize why the barber shop quartet at his 18th wedding anniversary causes him to become nauseous. This time travel is more of a flashback, but he is reminded of the awful bombing at Dresden and realizes why it makes him sick. This is also another theme found in the novel. Billy hardly reveals any of this war stories to any of his family or friends and this repression leads people to think of him as crazy and may cause his real or imaginative time travelings.
Slaughterhouse-Five POV
"And every day my Government gives me a count of military corpses created by military science in Vietnam." p.210
This story and novel is very unique in that it changes point of view. Somewhat like a soliloquy in a play, Vonnegut sometimes interrupts his own story to point out where he fits in. Often like a play, the narrator begins the story and ends it. The effect this creates is that Vonnegut is able to express his views more clearly. Throughout the story of Billy Pilgrim, he is able to make his snide, ironic, satirical or sarcastic remarks to more subtly make his point. In the last chapter, Vonnegut wraps up the plot and expands upon ideas found in the novel, like those of the Tralfamadorians. The story starts in 1st person, switches to 3rd person omniscient, and a combination in the last chapter. In doing this, he can tell the story of Billy Pligrim and makes his comments simultaneously.
This story and novel is very unique in that it changes point of view. Somewhat like a soliloquy in a play, Vonnegut sometimes interrupts his own story to point out where he fits in. Often like a play, the narrator begins the story and ends it. The effect this creates is that Vonnegut is able to express his views more clearly. Throughout the story of Billy Pilgrim, he is able to make his snide, ironic, satirical or sarcastic remarks to more subtly make his point. In the last chapter, Vonnegut wraps up the plot and expands upon ideas found in the novel, like those of the Tralfamadorians. The story starts in 1st person, switches to 3rd person omniscient, and a combination in the last chapter. In doing this, he can tell the story of Billy Pligrim and makes his comments simultaneously.
Slaughterhouse-Five Extended Metaphor
"It was realized then that ther was no food or water, and that the survivors, if they were going to survive, were going to have to climb over curve after curve on the face of the moon." p.180
This is one of the metaphors that is often repeated in referring to Dresden. This metaphor, is again, to attack war. Through his comparison, Vonnugut is saying, this isn't Earth; this is something foreign. There are no people, there is no food or water, they aren't crawling over holes but over a "curve on the face of the moon". We don't need to travel to Tralfamadore to find another planet; we do it to ourselves. Vonnegut also is saying that nuclear disarming is not the answer. Dresden was done with weapons that are called conventional. Although they are conventional, they killed hundreds of thousands in Dresden.
This is one of the metaphors that is often repeated in referring to Dresden. This metaphor, is again, to attack war. Through his comparison, Vonnugut is saying, this isn't Earth; this is something foreign. There are no people, there is no food or water, they aren't crawling over holes but over a "curve on the face of the moon". We don't need to travel to Tralfamadore to find another planet; we do it to ourselves. Vonnegut also is saying that nuclear disarming is not the answer. Dresden was done with weapons that are called conventional. Although they are conventional, they killed hundreds of thousands in Dresden.
Slaughterhouse-Five Motif
"Next to Lazzaro was the poor old high school teacher, Edgar Derby, mournfully pregnant with patriotism and middle age and imaginary wisdom. And so on." p.150
This motif is used always before describing Edgar Derby: poor old. From the revealing of his death by stealing a teapot, Vonnegut and Billy Pilgrim call him "poor old". The significance of this motif I think is found in the character that is Derby. He is not an average soldier; but, he is more or less the average American. He has an average job as a middle school teacher, is middle aged, and "pregnant with patriotism". Through his death, Vonnegut reveals who war affects most, average people. These people are affected for no or little reason, like stealing a teapot. Those who suffer most from war along with the soldiers are the people of the world.
This motif is used always before describing Edgar Derby: poor old. From the revealing of his death by stealing a teapot, Vonnegut and Billy Pilgrim call him "poor old". The significance of this motif I think is found in the character that is Derby. He is not an average soldier; but, he is more or less the average American. He has an average job as a middle school teacher, is middle aged, and "pregnant with patriotism". Through his death, Vonnegut reveals who war affects most, average people. These people are affected for no or little reason, like stealing a teapot. Those who suffer most from war along with the soldiers are the people of the world.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Slaughterhouse-Five The Connection
"There was a drunk on the other end. Billy could almost smell his breath-mustard gas and roses." p. 78
The drunk caller makes an appearance in the speaker's introduction in the first chapter. He says his name is Yon Yonson, although it isn't his true name. Is the narrator in the 1st chapter Vonnegut himself? I begin to wonder what, if any connection there is between this speaker and Bill Pilgrim. I believe this is the first intertwining of the stories and is a clear shout out to beginning of the book. The multiple plot and story lines rival that of a Tarantino movie and have me just as confused. At some point, they will hopefully be wrapped into one easily understood conclusion.
The drunk caller makes an appearance in the speaker's introduction in the first chapter. He says his name is Yon Yonson, although it isn't his true name. Is the narrator in the 1st chapter Vonnegut himself? I begin to wonder what, if any connection there is between this speaker and Bill Pilgrim. I believe this is the first intertwining of the stories and is a clear shout out to beginning of the book. The multiple plot and story lines rival that of a Tarantino movie and have me just as confused. At some point, they will hopefully be wrapped into one easily understood conclusion.
Slaughterhouse-Five Syntax
"Billy Pilgrim was on fire, having stood too close to the glowing stove." p.96
Personally, I would like thank Vonnegut. This story has been riveting, complex, and yet COMPLETELY understandable. He proves that simple syntax is regular English can actually be effective. No need for convoluted 9 line sentences. Vonnegut conveys his message through the plot and between the words without the overly complex vocab sentence structure. I have come to like this book for its simple yet challenging underlying themes and subtexts. A book about time travel and war that isn't cliched and is quite different. While, the jumps from time could be smoother, I like this book. His simple syntax with deep meanings could be the death of long sentences. So it goes. I can only hope.
Personally, I would like thank Vonnegut. This story has been riveting, complex, and yet COMPLETELY understandable. He proves that simple syntax is regular English can actually be effective. No need for convoluted 9 line sentences. Vonnegut conveys his message through the plot and between the words without the overly complex vocab sentence structure. I have come to like this book for its simple yet challenging underlying themes and subtexts. A book about time travel and war that isn't cliched and is quite different. While, the jumps from time could be smoother, I like this book. His simple syntax with deep meanings could be the death of long sentences. So it goes. I can only hope.
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